Closure means for artificial body openings



June 3, 1969 R. J. SPICER 3,447,533

CLOSURE MEANS FOR ARTIFICIAL BODY OPENINGS Filed Sept. 14, 1964 Sheet or 2 Z uvwszvrox (i/(#429 c/. 63 /655 June 3, 1969 R. J. SPICER 3,447,533

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United States Patent 3,447,533 CLOSURE MEANS FOR ARTIFICIAL BODY OPENINGS Richard J. Spicer, 306 Ashton St., Alexandria, Va. 22309 Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,241 Int. Cl. A61b 19/00; A61f /44; B65d 39/12 US. Cl. 1281 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A closure for body openings comprising an apertured support portion, an elastic contractable and expandable bladder portion circumferentially secured to one end of said support portion, an external plate portion secured to the other end of said support portion, said external plate portion conforming to the external anus of the body of the wearer and means for extending said bladder portion for sealable insertion into a body opening. In use, the device is contracted for insertion in the body opening and thereafter expanded to maintain the closure in sealing engagement with the body opening.

This invention relates to surgical appliances for closing artificial body openings, such as, rectal openings, artificial abdominal openings and the like, and in particular, to a surgical closure plug means adapted for ileostomy, colostomy, or rectal use which may be dependably, conveniently and comfortably used by a patient without a belt means and which Will quickly rehabilitate a patient psychologically to a normal way of life and its pursuits with a minimum of time after the above operations.

Generally, colostomy patients are those individuals who have had their rectum waste elimination use removed surgically due to cancer or other malignant infections of the colon or of like areas. The lower bowel or colon is, therefore, brought out by the surgeon through an aperture of the side of the abdomen of the patient and surgically attached to the outer skin thereof as a skin grafted reinforced artificial body aperture for the purpose of serving as a means for the elimination of body Wastes (stoma) which functions were formerly accomplished by the opening of the rectum. In the medical field, the artificial body aperture or opening is termed a bud. Although a person can function quite well after this type of operation, there are no involuntary muscles or sphincter to control passage of body waste materials, liquids or gases. On the market today there are pads, Various receptacles and several means of bag attachments which are either taped over the opening or attached thereto by means of a belt worn around the body to cover the bud to control the escape of gas and to mufi'le the noise of escaping gas therefrom. These means of waste elimination control are very inefficient and ineffective, and present a great physiological problem to a recovering patient or to the rehabilitating of a recovered patient who is accustomed to dealing with the public at conferences and other business or social activities, and does not want to be ostracized or embarrassed because of such noises or odors.

This invention solves the above problems by providing a restrictive self sealing surgical appliance for insertion into the artificial body opening and terminating end of the colon or duct to control and prevent the escape of gas, liquid and waste therefrom. This new surgical appliance may be made of various sizes and shapes to suitably seal and comfortably fit either single or double colostomies, or the like, as desired.

3,447,533 Patented June 3, 1969 "ice The method employed in this invention, in brief, permits a patient to insert the appliance in the extended position of the drawings into the bud or opening and adjust the radial expansion of the soft bulbous portion of the appliance against the internal walls of the colon and inside wall of the bud for comfort to be self sealing by further axial adjustments of the appliance to properly seal and bear against both sides of the bud as a substitute for the sphincter or involuntary muscles of the rectum opening formerly used by the patient. The various modifications of the invention as shown in the drawings permits the patient a choice in his preference in solving his problems and rehabilitating himself or herself to a normal way of life by being able to choose the appliance with the actuating means therefor that is desired by the patient, the details of which will be later described. The appliance would be of diiferent flesh skin colors and made in different sizes and shaped to conform to the bud or artificial body opening for comfortable wearing, and made of sterilizable, non-toxic soft pliable surgical rubber, plastic or other desired materials supported therein by either captured air, semi-rigid or resilient materials as will best serve for use in the artificial opening of the body.

An object of the present invention is to provide a closure appliance for artificial body openings which avoids the drawbacks of the present known devices and which may be worn without a belt means surrounding the body of the patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure appliance for artificial body openings which may be worn inconspicuously under the clothing and will not be uncomfortable to the patient during his normal day of activities.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure appliance which will comfortably seal from within various sizes and shapes of artificial body openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure appliance for artificial body openings which is efiicient, reliable and is relatively inexpensive.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a closure appliance for artificial body openings which is radially expandable within the duct or intestine and is selectively contractable to bear against the internal and outer surfaces of the body opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of sealing an artificial body opening by inserting a soft pliable and resilient material within a body duct and selectively expanding the material axially against the inside walls of the duct to seal the inside of the duct and adjusting longitudinally means cooperating with the soft material to sealably bear against the internal and outer surfaces of the body opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure appliance for artificial body openings which is adapted to be easily cleaned and sterilized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure appliance for artificial body openings which is expandable to conform to the contour of the inside walls of the opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure appliance for artificial body openings which may be expanded by air in sealing relationship with the inner walls of the opening and sealing clamp against the inside and outside Walls of the artificial body opening.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of various embodiments and a novel arrangement of parts therefor, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the invention showing an inner resilient portion cooperating with an outer cap portion and pull chain means;

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of a human body and longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIGURE 1 after the appliance has been sealably positioned and expanded by adjusting pressure with chain tension within an artificial body opening;

FIGURE 3 shows a frontal view of the appliance after the appliance of FIGURE 1 has been installed in an artificial body opening of a colostomy patient;

FIGURE 4 is a frontal view of the keeper disc means for the pull chain of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention, which employs an inner compressible spring means cooperating with cord laces therefor;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG- URE 5, after the appliance has been inserted in an artificial body opening and expanded by draw cords therein preparatory to being worn by the patient;

FIGURE 7 is a frontal view of a tying keeper disc for the cord or laces of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a third embodiment of the invention which employs a tension spring therein which is actuated by an individual tool to extend the appliance for insertion within the artificial body opening of a patient;

FIGURE 9 is a frontal view of the outer cap or plate means of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a view of FIGURE 8 after insertion within the opening of a patient showing its self actuating radial expansion means for sealing the opening;

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention employing an inner tension spring means cooperating with a longitudinally adjustable screw thread means, as shown; and

FIGURE 12 is a modified form of the outer cap means of the various embodiments of the present invention which is adapted for rectal use.

In the drawings like reference numbers represent like parts.

Referring to FIGURES l, 2, and 3, reference numeral represents an exemplary embodiment of the device comprised of an outer plate like member 22 of a desired curvature to fit the outer surface of the bud, joined to a semi-rigid neck portion 24 and connected to a flexible and resilient bulbous portion 26 secured to an inner supporting member 28 which is sealably attached by an inner flexible resilient tubular member 30 to the neck portion 24. The space between membrane members 30 and 26 is filled by captured air inserted before or after molding or assembling thereof which serves to radially extend membrane 26 against intestine or canal walls when inserted in an artificial opening of a human body, as best shown in FIGURE 2. Plate means 22 contains a central opening 32 communicating with the tubular neck portion 24. Opening 32 fixedly carries by groove means therein a suitable disc member 34 having a suitable shaped latch aperture 36 as shown in FIGURE 4 to receive and secure a pull chain 38, as desired for proper adjustment of the extension of bulbous means 26 when extended longitudinally for insertion in a body opening or radially extended against the intestine or duct walls in an inside sealing relationship of the appliance with regard to the inner and outer peripheral surface of an artificial body opening, as best shown in FIGURE 2 which shows the sealing application of the new appliance 20.

Pull chain 38 is secured to an anchor means 29 in a suitable manner to inner member 28, as shown. Pull chain 38 may be of stainless steel or other suitable flexible noncorrosive material, as desired.

The bulbous portion 26, members 24 and 28, and the inner concave surfaces of plate 22 is covered by a soft latex material 50' or other suitable material which is soft and very pliable, contributing to the comfort of the wearer of the new appliance of this invention. Bulbous portion 26 may be made of any suitable preformed shape yieldable and resilient material, as desired. Member 28 and plate 22 may be made of any suitable semi-yieldable material in accordance with use and functions of the membrane materials of the other portions of the new appliance, as desired.

In operation, when pull chain 38 is released from keeper disc like member 34, the preformed resiliency of member 26 cooperating with the influence of compressible air 40 therein permits the bulbous portion 26 to extend longitudinally along the axis of the plug-like appliance for insertion in a body opening. When chain 38 is adjustably pulled taut, as desired by the wearer, and secured in disc means 34, the flexible resilient bulbous portion extends radially outwardly against the inner walls of a duct 42 and against the inner wall of the body to sealably contact radially and longitudinally the inner surfaces of the artificial body opening, as best shown in FIGURE 2. In the latter operation of pull chain 38, cap means 22 is sealably secured against the outer surface of the artificial body opening 44 (the bud).

To insert the appliance of FIGURE 1, the pull chain 38 is released from disc 34 to permit automatic longitudinal axial elongation of the bulbous portion 26 for comfortable insertion of this portion into artificial body opening 44 and duct or intestine means 42. Then plate means 22 is held by the patient snugly against the body 50 while pull chain 38 is pulled taut and secured in latching aperture 36 of plate or disc means 34 by the patient to radially expand and longitudinally contract bulbous portion 26 in substantially the position shown in FIGURE 2, after which the appliance 20 may be comfortably worn by the patient in an artificial body opening, as best shown in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 disclose a second embodiment of the invention, in which reference numeral 60 designates the new appliance comprised of an outer plate like member 62 of a desired curvature sealably joined to a semirigid neck portion 64 covered by an outer flexible semirigid tubular neck membrane 66 attached, as desired, to an inner membrane 68 and an outer bulbous portion 70 of preformed resilient and flexible material secured to an intermediate inner membrane 72 of semi-rigid material and plate member 62 covered, at least partially, with soft latex or other suitable soft material 74, as desired for the comfort and well being of the patient wearing the new appliance. Member 72 contains therein a suitable anchor means 76 adapted to receive a lace of nylon or other suitable material 78 adapted to be adjustably secured by knot means 79, of FIGURE 6, through apertures 80 of keeper disc means 82 fixedly embedded by groove means 84 surrounding central aperture and conduit means 86 of plate means 62 and neck means 64. The laces 78 are surrounded by a compression spring 88- which is secured to member 72 and disc means 82, in a suitable conventional manner, to maintain the bulbous portion 70 in a longitudinally extended position preparatory to insertion into a body opening, as best shown by FIGURE 5. The recess 90 between inner membrane 68 and outer resilient bulbous portion 70 contains therein captured air 92 which cooperates with the inner membranes to extend the bulbous portion radially when drawn to desired pressure by patient, as best shown in FIGURE 6, which sealably coacts with artificial body opening 44 similarly to that of the appliance 20 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 shows a front view of disc means 82 containing therein dual apertures 80 to receive each of the two ends of lace means 78, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 disclose a third embodiment of the invention represented by reference numeral comprised by outer plate means 112 of suitable curvature connected to a tubular neck portion 114, both being made of semi-rigid material covered by a soft membrane 116 of suitable flexible material. Plate means 112 contains therein a disc means 118 having an aperture 119' communicating with the aperture of inner neck walls 120. Membrane 116 is sealably connected to an outer resilient and flexible bulbous membrane portion 122 secured to an inner tubular membrane means 124 secured to a closing end semi-rigid member 126 of a suitable shape as desired for insertion into a body canal. Member 126 contains therein an insert tool bearing disc means 129 and pin means 128 secured to the circular end loop means 130 of tension spring means 132 which is secured at the other end by curved loop spring means 134 in an aperture 135 of apertured disc means 118 secured in groove means 138 of plate means 112. Bulbous portion 122 and inner tubular means 124 define a sealed toroidal like space filled with captured air 140 at a desired pressure inserted before or after assembly of the appliance by any conventional means, as desired. Bulbous membrane 122, end member 126 and members 116 are covered by a soft latex like membrane 127, as shown. This exemplary embodiment of the invention is self sealing and self securing in a body opening after insertion therein by an insertion tool 142 when manually inserted therein as shown in FIGURE 8 and released therefrom by the patient as shown in FIG- 10. Appliance 110 after being placed in an artificial body Opening is radially self expanding clue to the preformed resilient shape of bulbous portion 122 coacting with captured air 140 axially against the inner walls of a body canal and longitudinally and axially controlled by ten- S1011 spring means 132.

FIGURE 11 is fourth embodiment of the invention which is not only self sealing by expanding radially but may be also adjusted to shorten the axial length of the appliance by coacting thread means to sealably contact the inner and outer surfaces of an artificial body opening reference numeral represents this embodiment of the invention comprised of a concave-convex shape or other suitable shaped plate means 152 corresponding to the shape of the body opening, as desired, sealably connected to an externally threaded neck portion 154 which coacts with the internal threads 156 of an extending neck portion 158. The distal end of extending neck portion 158 is attached by brazing or other conventional means to the outer end 160 of tension spring means 162 which is attached at the other end by an eyelet 164 passed through insert bearing disc 165 and surrounds pin means 166 conventionally embedded in closure end member 168 which is sealably connected to preformed resilient outer bulbous membrane portion 170 which is also sealably connected to both ends of inner flexible tubular member 172. Plate means 152 is covered by pliable membrane 155, as shown. Bulbous portion 170 and closure member 168 are covered with an impermeable soft latex material 171 or other non-irritating suitable material as desired, which is comfortable and helpful to the user of the present invention.

Plate means 152 is covered by a suitable semi-rigid material 155 and has a central aperture 153 communicating with the aperture of member 154. The toroidal like sealed space 174 between outer bulbous membrane 170 and inner tubular membrane 172 is filled with captured air of a designated pressure inserted before or after assembly of the appliance, as desired. The longitudinal contraction of tension spring 162 together with the coaction of the captured air 176 and outer bulbous membrane 170 is radially self expanding against an inner body canal wall after insertion with insert tool 142, the operation of which is similar to that illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 10, as understood by those skilled in the art. After insertion of the appliance in a body opening longitudinal axial adjustment is made by slowly turning plate means 152 in a desired direction to adjust the screw thread means 158 with that on the external surface of neck means 154 until bulbous portion 170 sealably contacts the inner surface and plate means 152 and sealably contacts the outer surface of the artificial body opening, as desired, for comfort of the wearer.

FIGURE 12 is an embodiment of the outer plate means of this invention adapted for use in a rectal opening or the like. Reference numeral 180 designates the plate and neck modification of the embodiments of the appliance which is comprised of apertured plate means 182 sealably connected to outwardly extending tubular end portion 184, and inner tubular neck portion 186 defining a common aperture 187, and having all outer contact surfaces covered by a soft latex type of material, or the like, to insure comfort and well being of the patient, as desired. Members 182, 184 and neck portion 186 is covered in a conventional manner with a soft latex type of covering 183.

In operation of this invention the following method steps may be generally defined for FIGURES 1 through 11, as follows:

The bulbous portion of the appliance is oblongated axially for insertion in a body opening, after which the external plate is snugly fitted against the external circumferential surfaces of the opening, then the internal portion of the appliance is radially expanded to sealably contact the inside wall surfaces of a body duct communicating with the opening. Then the appliance is axially shortened to compress or contact both inner and outer walls of the opening to insure a comfortable fluid or material seal of the artificial body opening as desired by a patient.

The bulbous portion, neck and plate means of the appliance may have one or more thicknesses of various soft materials applied thereto in a suitable conventional manner, within the purview of this invention, as desired.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a novel and new closure appliance for artificial body openings which accomplishes all the objects of this invention during use, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and hygienic importance.

As many embodiments may be made of the various embodiments hereinbefore shown and described as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from this inventive concept, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense, except as set forth in the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure appliance for artificial body openings comprising an elastically deflectable soft and multiple com partment bulbous bladder means, including a central open air compartment surrounded by a closed air compartment and an inner supporting bulbous member, a centrally apertured base plate means to sealably contact the outer surface of a human body opening including a neck portion cooperatively connected to said bladder means, said neck portion having a central aperture therein, means in said appliance for selectively and sealably expanding radially said bladder means against the inside walls of a duct communicating with a body opening, and mean for radially contracting and longitudinally forwardly extending said bladder means to insert and remove the appliance from an artificial body opening.

2. A closure appliance for artificial body openings as in claim 1, wherein said means for radially expanding said bladder means comprises a spring means cooperatively connected to said base plate means and said inner supporting member of said bladder means.

3. A closure appliance for artificial body openings as in claim 1, wherein said means for radially expanding said bladder means comprises a spring and lace means for tying and biasing said bladder means in a radially expanded position.

4. A closure appliance for artificial body openings comprising a centrally apertured base plate means to contact 7 the outer body surface of a body opening, said plate means having an elongated apertured tubular support portion adapted for insertion in a body opening, an elastically deflectable soft inflated bladder means surrounding said tubular support portion, and aperture neck means securing said bladder means to said plate means in sealing contact with the inner surface and the outer surface of a body opening, said plate means and said bladder means comprising a common central aperture, an elongation means secured in said central aperture, and means for axially eX- tending said bladder means to permit insertion of said bladder means into a body opening, said means thereafter permitting radial expansion of the bladder means to sealably secure the bladder means in a body opening.

5. A closure appliance for artificial body openings as in claim 4, wherein the plate means and the bladder means contains therein a central spring means for sealably maintaining said bladder means in a body opening.

6. A closure appliance for artificial body openings as in claim 5, wherein said spring means is a compression spring.

7. A closure appliance for artificial body openings as in claim 5, wherein said spring means is a tension spring.

8. A closure appliance for artificial body openings comprising an outer plate means secured to an elongated neck portion of semi-rigid material having a central aperture in said portion communicating with the outer surface of said plate means and a centrally apertured and inflated bladder portion fixedly and adjustably secured by means to said neck portion to comfortably seal an artificial body opening, said outer plate means consisting of semi-rigid material externally covered with a thin impermeable skin or film material fixedly secured thereto, said bladder means being externally covered with a thin impermeable film material fixedly secured thereto, said bladder means having a light type chain means fixed thereto and whereby said bladder means can be radially expanded to maintain said bladder means in sealing relationship to the internal wall surfaces of a body duct, said light type chain means being secured by an apertured keeper plate means secured in said plate means.

9. A closure appliance for artificial body openings comprising a centrally apertured plate means conforming to the shape of a body opening and having an extending neck portion attached thereto adapted to extend Within the canal of a body opening, said plate and neck portion being covered with a soft thin impermeable film material attached thereto to conform in shape and to contact the body opening surfaces; an elastically multiple compartment deflectable soft bulbous bladder means having a central longitudinal open air compartment, a surrounding closed air compartment and an inner supporting bulbous compart ment member therein and adapted to be inserted into a body canal and radially expanded therein in sealing engagement with the walls thereof, and adjustable means longitudinally securing said neck portion to said bladder means to seal a body opening, means wherein said adjustable means comprises longitudinally adjustable vcomating thread means between said neck portion and said bladder means.

10. A closure appliance for artificial body openings according to claim 9, wherein said bladder means includes captured air in said closed air compartment for radial expansion and longitudinal expansion thereof, said bladder means being externally covered with a suitable soft thin impermeable film material attached thereto to sealably contact the internal Walls of a body canal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,520 7/1943 Lamson 1281 2,425,841 8/1947 Scott 2l5---52 2,435,387 2/1948 Eckard et a1. 128--344 2,510,766 6/1950 Surface 1281 2,564,399 8/1951 Franken 128l 2,824,558 2/ 1958 Michael et al. 128152 3,098,575 7/1963 Siebert 215--52 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,082,007 6/ 1954 France.

24,271 11/1962 Germany.

DALTON L. TRULUCK, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. l28283; 21552 

